Total Pro Sports
It didn’t take ESPN all that long to begin fielding backlash after it posted a graphic labeled “All the Icons” to promote its new direct-to-consumer app, which comes shortly after claims regarding a $1 billion mistake.
The photo, shared via the official SportsCenter X account, shows several notable sports personalities, including multiple WNBA players, NFL players, and college football players. But folks were pretty irate over the icons who got left out, considering that Brian Windhorse and Mina Kimes, as well as her dog Lenny, made it on there.
The network took serious heat, including accusations of being “unserious” and “tone deaf,” especially given that they have endured rife criticism over the last few years.
The Worldwide Leader in Sports has yet to recover from Monica McNutt’s Shedeur Sanders gaffe. At the same time, there’s some pressure on them to fire Ryan Clark following a bad joke about Jesus Christ, so it was probably in their best interest to delete the tweet, which they did.
Of course, it still found its way back online, resurfacing via other Twitter/X accounts.
Peep below:
Just when you thought ESPN was starting to maybe turn the corner and learn from their past mistakes, they promote their new app and service with this since deleted photo.
Dumb way to do business. pic.twitter.com/J7R6Rnu2wk
— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) August 22, 2025
ESPN deleted their “all the icons” tweet in the dead of the night. pic.twitter.com/15zKyo95Uo
— Jack Mac (@JackMacCFB) August 22, 2025
“How does s**t like this even get approved bro. Couldn’t even Tiger or McGregor?” someone asked.
How does shit like this even get approved bro
Couldn’t even Tiger or McGregor?
— zar (@zarmma_) August 22, 2025
“Well they are a woke company now and owned by Disney and Disney hasn’t learned anything in years. So I would expect ESPN to learn from their mistake either,” a user claimed.
Well they are a woke company now and owned by Disney and Disney hasn’t learned anything in years. So I would expect ESPN to learn from their mistake either.
— Double-tap Thoughts (@doleseric) August 22, 2025
“I guess they don’t learn from Shane Gillis’ joke at the ESPYS where he had his friend’s wife pretend to be a famous WNBA player and got everyone to applaud… Only to reveal she wasn’t in the NBA and nobody follows that sport…” another commet read.
I guess they don’t learn from Shane Gillis’ joke at the ESPYS where he had his friend’s wife pretend to be a famous WNBA player and got everyone to applaud…
Only to reveal she wasn’t in the NBA and nobody follows that sport…
— Tim G (@Tim_G_1983) August 22, 2025
“More WNBA players and personalities than golf, baseball, hockey, and soccer combined… makes sense 😂 @ESPN went from must-watch to only when needed,”...
